Adjustable caster



Feb. 5, 1924. 1,482,956

W. J. TIDEMAN ADJUSTABLE GAS TER Filed Dec. 10. 1921 gym 1AM Wzzzzm Jmem Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE.

WILLIAM J. TIDEMAN, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED ELECTRIC COM.-

PANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION.

ADJUSTABLE ons'rnn.

Application filed December 10, 1921. Serial No. 521,343.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, 'WILLIAM J. TIDEMAN,

. a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Casters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a caster for the rear end of a portable vacuum cleaner or similar use, wherein it is desirable to adjust the caster vertically with reference to the machine, to tilt the same upward or downward upon its forward wheels, and wherein the vibration of the machine tends to change the adjustment; and the objects of the im provement are to provide simple means for adjusting such a caster to a plurality of positions and for stopping or holding it in the various positions.

The above and other objects may be attained by providing a pair of inclined, par allel, depending ribs upon the rear portion of the cleaner casing, each of said ribs having an inwardly disposed. notched plate upon its lower edge, the adjacent edges of said plates being spaced to receive a spring pressed plunger to which the rear caster bracket is swiveled, lugs being formed upon said plunger for selective engagement with any of the notches in said plates.

A preferred embodiment of the invention thus set forth in general terms is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portable vacuum cleaner showing the improved cas ter thereon;

Fig. 2, a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

gig. 3, a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; an

Fig. 4, is a section on the line 44, Fig. 3.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawmg.

The suction cleaner illustrated includes the fan casing 1 provided upon its forward side with a suction nozzle 2, on top with the motor casing 3 and in the rear with the discharge outlet 4 leading to the dust collecting bag 5, the nozzle portion of the machine being usually supported upon the wheels 6; and on each side of the casing is pivoted a handle bail 7 by means of which the machine is manipulated.

The machine being supported at its forward end upon the wheels 6, the same can be tilted upward or downward by lowering or raising the rear end thereof; and for thepurposeof limiting the downward movement, a rear caster 8 is usually provided. By making this rear caster adjustable vertically, with reference to the rear end of the machine, the normal position of the nozzle with reference to the floor or carpet, can be varied.

For the purpose of the present invention, a pair of spaced, inclined, depending ribs 9 are formed upon the under side of the discharge neck 4, a plate 10 being connected to the under edge of each rib as by screws 11, the inner edges of said plates being spaced as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4 and provided with the spaced pairs of opposed notches 12.

A plunger 13 is located between the spaced edges of the plates 10 and provided with an enlarged head 14 arranged to be normally held in engagement with the under side of the outlet neck by means of the spring 15 located between said head and the plates 10. Diametrically opposed ears 16 are formed upon the plunger 13 and arranged to selectively engage any pair of the notches 12 when the plunger is in the normal position as shown in the drawing. A rearwardly disposed, angular, bearing arm 17 is carried by the plunger 13 and the rear caster bracket 18 is swiveled thereon in any approved manner.

With the parts in the normal position, the head 14 of the plunger will impinge the under side of the outlet neck of the casing. holding the ears 16 in engagement with one pair of the notches 12, the spring 15 holding the plunger in this position and preventing accidental displacement of the same by vibrations of the machine. To adjust the easter upward or downward with reference to the casing, the plunger 13 is pulled outwardly against the pressure of the spring 15 until the ears 16 are disengaged from the adjacent notches in the plates 10, when the plunger may be moved longitudinally between the ribs 9 until the desired adjustment is reached, when the ears 16 may be engaged with the adjacent notches and the plunger held in such position of adjust ment b the spring 15.

By this construction and arrangement, it is evident that the caster bracket with the rear caster thereon, may be adjusted with reference to the bottom of the vacuum clean er by merely pulling the plunger upward until the ears thereon are disengaged from the adjacent notches in the plates when the plunger may be moved to any other desired adjustment and the ears thereon engaged with the adjacent notches, and that when a particular adjustment is given to the plunger carrying the caster, the spring will normally hold the same against accidental displacement.

1 claim 1. A caster for vacuum cleaners, or the like including an inclined, notched guideway, a plunger slidablylocated therein and having ears for engagement with the notches, means for normally holding the plunger in adjusted position and a caster carried by the plunger.

2. A caster for vacuum cleaners, or the like including a pair of depending, inclined ribs, notched guide plates upon the under edges of the ribs, a plunger provided with ears for engagement with said notched plates, 2. head upon the plunger and a spring between said plates and head for normally holding the plunger in adjusted position and a caster carried by the plunger.

3. A caster for vacuum cleaners, or the like including a pair of spaced notched plates, a plunger slidably mounted between the plates and having ears for engagement with notches-in the plates, a spring for normally holding the punger in any adjusted position and a caster carried by the plunger.

WILLIAM J. TIDEMAN. 

